NICE! Plant of the Month
(Ehretia anacua)
Family: Boraginaceae (Borage Family)
Other Common Names: Sugarberry, Knock-away, Vogelbeerenbaum (German) or Birdberry Tree, Sandpaper Tree
Type: Multi-trunk shrub or medium tree with a rounded, dense canopy and deeply furrowed bark; up to 40-50 feet in moist soils but much less in dry conditions; may form thickets by suckering in frequently moist soils.
Natural Habitat: Southern Edwards Plateau south through the Rio Grande Plains into Mexico along streams in moist soils but also in fencerows, thickets or woods; common. Often planted as far north as Dallas but will die back there in very hard freezes; hardy to 10°F.
Preferred Site and Use: Beautiful ornamental tree providing dense shade and wildlife viewing.
Deer Resistance: Browsed frequently by deer when young; protect by caging.
Wildlife: Fruit eaten by a number of small mammals and numerous birds.
Light Tolerance: Full sun to only slight partial shade early or late in the day.
Flowers: Late spring or early summer in the Edwards Plateau, white, aromatic, 5-lobed, 1/4-1/2 inch wide in small clusters at the tips of branches. In the Rio Grande region there are two flowering seasons, one in spring and one in late summer.
Fruit: Small pea sized (1/4 inch) drupe, yellow to orange to red when ripe in late summer to early fall; sweet, edible.
Leaves: Dark green, sandpapery rough on top surface, simple, alternate, oval to oblong, 2-4 inch, which are frequently toothed from the middle to the tip. Evergreen in mild winters with old leaves dropping as new ones emerge.
Water Requirements: Xeric once established; water during establishment period.
Soil Requirements: Most often in calcareous soil but will also thrive in arid, sandy soils.
Maintenance: This native requires no maintenance once established; water only in the most severe drought. Just enjoy the view.
Planting Instructions: Space plants 20 feet apart. Dig hole at least two – five times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides and shape of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places to avoid root girdling. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug from the hole. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the root ball and disturbed soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the disturbed soil around but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall following planting. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter, water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: This is a much underused tree, which will provide hours of wildlife watching opportunities, blossoms in spring, and later, showy berries against the dark green leaves. Also, the shrub form can be used to provide a dense screen as it is primarily evergreen. Use this wildlife friendly native for screens instead of the invasive, dreaded Ligustrums!
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
